I can't tell you how happy it makes me to say that my daughter was accepted to the 4 colleges she applied to.

Rachel is 29 years old and life has not been an easy thing for her. She is very bright. She also has some serious learning disabilities. Because she's so bright and because she went to a very progressive school, they never diagnosed her difficulties and left her feeling pretty much like a person who couldn't learn and an open wound. So much so, that it was only 2 years ago that she decided she she was going to enroll in the local community college and do something serious with her life despite the pain that school has always caused her.

Today, it is her personal triumph that she can choose between 4 wonderful schools including UCLA and Berkeley. I have no doubt she'll do very well at whichever one she chooses because she's done what not everyone can  she's mastered herself. ::beam, beam, beam::

If I tell you I'm a proud and happy mom, you haven't even got an idea how much!_________________God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny. -- Garrison Keillor

Rainey...it's not just your delightful self beaming...my face seems to be splitting with joy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

given that, over the months and months, c&z readers have got to know you...it's no surprise that Rachel has done what she's done...maybe a surprise to some...but not to us....with a mom/mum such as you!

haiku for Rachel

Everest that climb
each experiencing base
Rachel at summit!

Rainey would you please give Rachel a hug from Australia...even though the jacarandas aren't out yet..cyberspace wise I'm sending a tree simply laden with blossoms..in celebration of the mountain climber named Rachel...a truly wondrous story to inspire all....thanks so much for sharing the story...beam beam beam!_________________"I've never accepted the external appearance of things as the whole truth. The world is much more elaborate than the nerves of our eye can tell us." - James Gleeson

Joined: 18 Oct 2004Posts: 1654Location: Within view of Elliot Bay, The Olympics and every ship in the Sound

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 2:25 pm Post subject:

Rainey,
I can totally identify with your daughter. I have dyslexia, and it wasn't diagnosed until my anthropology prof. noticed some symptoms. Every single day in school was a struggle, trying your hardest, failing and, (in my case), being punished for it. Your daughter has accomplished a wonderful thing, I hope she relishes every minute of it._________________"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

Congrats to your daughter. Having been thru the trials of the college application process in the last couple of years, I can appreciate the effort. My older brother has severe dyslexia and a related disorder (don't know it off the top of my head), it took him an extra year or two to finish HS, but he did it and received his welding certification in the process. Trade school (BOCES in NYS) is a life saver for a lot of kids. But BERKELEY?!!? geesh, I'd be bouncing off the walls with excitement for anybody I know.

I am just ab-so-bloomin-lutely THRILLED for Rachel! And I shall be using her experience with my students!

I am a Resource specialist and I work with students with learning disablities. I spend a lot of my time with them trying to help them understand what their learning "difference " is and what their strengths are. I work with their teachers and their parents as well, so that everyone is on the same page and we can figure out how to move them ahead in the curriculum in a way that makes it accessible to them. And in a way that allows them to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in their own learning style.

Ironically, my own son was diagnosed with a learning disability in his sophomore year of HS by his tutor! (No, not his mom, who specialises in LD). We had been working around it, knowing full well how bright he was, but really not understanding why he was such a slow worker. Ah well - I learned a HUGE lesson! And my empathy for parents in denial shot WAY UP!

Anyway - CONGRATULATIONS TO RACHEL!!!!!! on this major milestone! May she bask in the delight of being wanted at every school!

Maybe this means you'll be up to Berkeley and we can have that cup of coffee!!!!!! (My own selfish wish!)_________________L'appetit vient en mangeant. -Rabelais

As I read all these posts, I'm reminded yet again of the great gift Clotilde has given us...with this forum...pre Chocolate&Zucchini what are the odds of this group of people coming across Rainey in our travels...

the joy of this forum and its members...

hugtime_________________"I've never accepted the external appearance of things as the whole truth. The world is much more elaborate than the nerves of our eye can tell us." - James Gleeson

Last edited by madameshawshank on Thu May 04, 2006 12:54 am; edited 1 time in total

Thank you all for your kind words. We are still basking in the pure delight._________________God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny. -- Garrison Keillor